Comparative American Studies

Major

Students wishing to declare a Comparative American Studies major should select a faculty advisor who is a member of the Comparative American Studies Program Committee or consult with the Program Director. In consultation with the advisor, students should propose a program of study for review by the Program Director.

The Comparative American Studies major consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work. No more than 10 credits may normally be transferred from another institution. No more than nine credits of the major can be at the introductory level. For students pursuing double majors, cross-referenced courses may count toward requirements in both Comparative American Studies and the department or program of origin.

The Comparative American Studies major consists of the following required courses:

Required Program Courses (14-15 credit hours):

CAST 100 Introduction to Comparative American Studies, three credits.
CAST 300 Situated Research, three credits, recommended to be taken by the end of junior year.
CAST 301 Situated Research Practicum, one or two credits, to be taken the same semester as CAST 300.
CAST 400 Capstone Seminar, four credits.
One other Comparative American Studies program course, three hours credit. This course may count either for the Concentration Area requirement or serve as an elective (see below).

Concentration Area Requirement (Minimum of 12 credit hours):
Comparative American Studies majors are required to complete at least 12 credits within one of three concentrations in order to develop a coherent area of specialization within the CAST major. The Concentration Areas are:

Identity and Diversity;
Globalization, Transnationalism, and Nation;
Histories and Practices of Social Change.

Within the concentration, each student will develop an individual area of focus in consultation with a faculty advisor. To demonstrate an interdisciplinary comparative perspective, students must select courses from at least two different departments or programs for their concentration. Besides Comparative American Studies program courses, courses listed on the Program’s web site (www.oberlin.edu/CAS) under the rubric “Comparative American Studies Courses in Various Disciplines” may count toward the Concentration Area Requirement.

Electives

Students may fulfill the remaining credit hours to complete the major by taking elective courses in either program course offerings or approved cross-listed or cross-referenced courses.

Students may petition to receive credit towards their program of study for a course not currently listed by submitting the Request Form and a class syllabus to the Comparative American Studies Program Director.

Minor

Students wishing to minor in Comparative American Studies must have their proposals approved by the Program Director. The Comparative American Studies minor consists of CAST 100 and 12 credits in an area of concentration (a total of 15 credits). At least one of the courses in the Concentration Area must be a program course. Only six credits at the introductory level are accepted for the minor. No more than five credits may be transferred from another institution toward the minor.

Honors

Comparative American Studies majors may pursue in-depth Honors research in their senior year under the supervision of a faculty advisor. An Honors Project normally consists of a written thesis based on original research or creative work. The thesis is submitted in the spring semester of the senior year and followed by a public presentation. Students who qualify for Honors and are interested in the program should consult with the Program Director by the beginning of the second semester in their junior year. Honors proposals are due on or about April 15.

Winter Term

When on duty, faculty members with appointments in Comparative American Studies sponsor Winter Term projects.

Off-Campus Programs for Credit

Students are encouraged to broaden their educational experience by taking advantage of off-campus programs, preferably sometime during their junior year. A maximum of ten hours credit of such work may be applied toward the major (five for the minor).

Comparative American Studies Web Site

For more information on the Comparative American Studies Program — including a list of program committee members, updates on the Program’s course offerings, and a list of cross-referenced courses in other departments and programs—please visit our web site at www.oberlin.edu/CAS.

First-Year Seminar

Program Courses

CAST 100 - Introduction to Comparative American Studies Credits: 3 hours
CAST 201 - Latinas/os in Comparative Perspective Credits: 3 hours
CAST 211 - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Identities Credits: 3 hours
CAST 220 - Native American Identities in Comparative Context Credits: 3 Hours
CAST 300 - Situated Research Credits: 3 hours
CAST 301 - Situated Research Practicum Credits: 1 to 2 hours
CAST 311 - Militarization of American Daily Life Credits: 4 hours
CAST 320 - Issue in Sexuality and Gender in an American Context Credits: 4 Hours
CAST 321 - Transnational Sexualities: National Borders, Global Desires Credits: 4 hours
CAST 401 - Capstone Seminar: Queer Geographies Credits: 4 hours
CAST 402 - Capstone Seminar: Rethinking Barrios and Ghettoes Credits: 4 hours
CAST 411 - Capstone Seminar: Issues of Sexuality in Comparative Context Credits: 4 Hours
CAST 500 - Honors Credits: 3 to 4 hours
CAST 501 - Honors Credits: 3 to 4 hours
CAST 995 - Private Reading Credits: 1 to 3 hours

Cross-Referenced Courses

In addition to program courses, students majoring or minoring in Comparative American Studies may count certain courses in other departments and programs toward their Concentration Area Requirement. A list of courses that qualify is posted on the program’s web site (www.oberlin.edu/CAS) under the rubric “Comparative American Studies Courses in Various Disciplines.”